Automator

Automator, a built-in Mac app, is one of the three renaming tools we use to rename files and folders.

To find Automator on a Mac, go to Finder – Applications – Automator.

You will need to create a workflow for renaming files. This program is particularly useful for files that have non-standard naming conventions, such as an inconsistent number of zeros before the image number.

1. Open Automator. You will see the following menu on the left side. Use the search bar to find commands by name and drag them into the workflow space on the right.

Automator menu selection including the library of possible actions to add to the workflow

2. Drag workflow tools into the workflow space in the following order.

Workflow Item 1: Ask for Finder Items. Select "Prompt:" Choose a Finder Item. Select "Start at" a folder of images or other files on your computer. Select "Type" Folders. Do not select "Allow Multiple Selection." Do not change any results or options. Workflow item 2: Set Value of Variable. Type "Path" into "Variable" text box. Workflow Item 3: Run Shell Script. Select "shell" bin\bash. Select "Pass input as arguments." Type "echo ${1##*/}" into the text box.

Workflow item 4: Set Value of Variable. Type "FolderName" into "Variable" text box. Workflow Item 5: "Get Value of Variable." Select "Path" in Variable drop down menu. Select "Ignore this action's input" under "Options." Workflow Item 6: "Get Folder Contents." Select "Repeat for each subfolder found."

Workflow Item 7: "Sort Finder Items." Select by "name" and in "ascending" order in drop down menus. Workflow item 8: Rename Finder Items. Select "Make Sequential." Select "new name" button and drag "FolderName" variable from variables box at the bottom of the screen. Place number "after name" drop down menu. Start numbers at "1" in text box. Separated by "dash" drop down menu. Check "Make all numbers 8 digits long."

Some common issues:

  • If you do not see “Path” or “FolderName” once you have created those variables, select “View” at the top of your screen and make sure “Log” is checked. Then in step 8, you can drag “FolderName” to the text box so it knows what variable you are talking about. You cannot simply type “FolderName” and have Automator recognize your variable.
  • Make sure that in step 5, “Get Value of Variable” you select “Ignore This Action’s Input.”
  • In step 8, search for the “Rename Finder Items” tool. You can then select “Make Sequential” in the first drop-down menu.

When you are ready to rename your images, make sure you have set your folder in Step 1 to the location of your files, and then click “Run” in the top right corner of the program.

Run and Stop buttons are located in the top right corner of the program window

If your workflow runs correctly, save it as “RenameWorkflow” and you can access the same procedure again without needing to set it up every time.